OVERVIEW of Structure of English
I. The Complex Sentence
1. Coordination and subordination
2. Finite, infinite, and verbless clauses
Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. (2002). The Cambridge grammar of the English language. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press. Quirk, R., Greenbaum, R., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985). A comprehensive
grammar of the English language. London: Longman.
Provide a report about the topic: The Complex Sentence : Coordination and subordination
Provide a proper introduction, body, conclusion, and activity. The report should be detailed and
contains relevant examples. Make it for the students in a college.
Title: The Complex Sentence: Coordination and Subordination
Introduction: The ability to construct effective and varied sentences is a fundamental
skill for college students to develop. One essential aspect of sentence construction is the
use of complex sentences, which involve coordination and subordination.
Understanding how to coordinate independent clauses and use subordinating
conjunctions can significantly enhance students' writing and communication skills. This
report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of coordination and subordination in
complex sentences, offering relevant examples to facilitate a deeper understanding of
these concepts.
Body:
I. Coordination: Coordination involves combining two or more independent clauses of
equal importance to create a complex sentence. Coordination is achieved through the
use of coordinating conjunctions, such as "and," "but," "or," "for," "nor," "so," and "yet."
These conjunctions serve to link independent clauses, giving equal weight to each
clause within the sentence.
Example 1:
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Independent clause 1: She enjoys reading novels.
Independent clause 2: He prefers watching movies.
Coordinated Sentence: She enjoys reading novels, but he prefers watching movies.
Example 2:
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Independent clause 1: The sun was shining brightly.
Independent clause 2: The birds were chirping.
Coordinated Sentence: The sun was shining brightly, and the birds were chirping.
II. Subordination: Subordination involves combining an independent clause with one or
more dependent clauses, creating a complex sentence in which one clause is
subordinate to the other. Subordination is achieved through the use of subordinating
conjunctions, such as "because," "although," "since," "when," "while," "if," "unless," and
"until." These conjunctions establish a hierarchical relationship between the clauses, with
the dependent clause providing additional information or modifying the independent
clause.
Example 1:
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Independent clause: He wanted to go to the beach.
Dependent clause: because the weather was sunny.
Subordinated Sentence: He wanted to go to the beach because the weather was sunny.
Example 2:
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Independent clause: She will attend the conference.
Dependent clause: if she finishes her assignment.
Subordinated Sentence: She will attend the conference if she finishes her assignment.
III. Coordination and Subordination Combined: Complex sentences often feature a
combination of coordination and subordination, allowing for the expression of multiple
ideas and relationships within a single sentence.
Example 1:
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Independent clause 1: The students studied diligently.
Dependent clause: because they wanted to excel in the exam.
Independent clause 2: They also participated in extracurricular activities.
Complex Sentence: The students studied diligently because they wanted to excel in the
exam, and they also participated in extracurricular activities.
Example 2:
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Independent clause 1: She loves playing tennis.
Dependent clause: even though she is not very good at it.
Independent clause 2: She plans to join the tennis club.
Complex Sentence: She loves playing tennis even though she is not very good at it, and
she plans to join the tennis club.
Conclusion: Mastering the construction of complex sentences through coordination and
subordination is a valuable skill for college students. Coordination allows for the
combination of independent clauses of equal importance, while subordination enables
the inclusion of dependent clauses that modify or provide additional information. By
understanding and utilizing these techniques, students can enhance the clarity,
coherence, and sophistication of their writing and communication.
Activity: To reinforce the concepts of coordination and subordination, students can
engage in the following activity:
Activity: Sentence Transformation
1. Provide students with a list of simple sentences.
2. Instruct them to transform each simple sentence into a complex sentence by
using coordination or subordination.
3. Encourage students to use appropriate coordinating or subordinating
conjunctions to connect clauses effectively.
4. Review and discuss the transformed sentences as a class, highlighting the
different ways coordination and subordination can be applied.
5. Provide feedback and clarification as needed to ensure students grasp the
concepts.
By actively practicing these techniques, students can develop proficiency in constructing
complex sentences, enhancing their writing skills and overall language proficiency.
Remember, mastering coordination and subordination in complex sentences requires
practice and application in various contexts. The more students engage with these
concepts, the more adept they will become at crafting well-structured and expressive
sentences.
Title: The Complex Sentence: Finite, Infinite, and Verbless Clauses
Introduction: Developing a strong grasp of complex sentence structures is crucial for
college students aiming to enhance their writing and communication skills. In addition
to coordination and subordination, understanding the different types of clauses within
complex sentences is essential. This report focuses on finite, infinite, and verbless
clauses, shedding light on their unique characteristics and providing relevant examples.
By comprehending these distinct types of clauses, students can construct complex
sentences with greater precision and sophistication.
Body:
I. Finite Clauses: Finite clauses contain a finite verb and can function independently as
complete sentences. They express a complete thought and typically include a subject
and a predicate. Finite clauses play a crucial role in constructing complex sentences.
Example 1:
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Finite Clause: She eats pizza.
Complex Sentence: She eats pizza because it is her favorite food.
Example 2:
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Finite Clause: They will go to the concert.
Complex Sentence: They will go to the concert if they can get tickets.
II. Infinite Clauses: Infinite clauses contain an infinitive verb form (e.g., to + verb) and
cannot function independently as complete sentences. They function as dependent
clauses within complex sentences, often serving as subjects, objects, or complements.
Example 1:
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Infinite Clause: To succeed in life
Complex Sentence: To succeed in life requires dedication and perseverance.
Example 2:
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Infinite Clause: To learn a new language
Complex Sentence: She decided to learn a new language in order to broaden her
horizons.
III. Verbless Clauses: Verbless clauses, as the name suggests, lack a finite or nonfinite
verb. Instead, they rely on other elements, such as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns, to
convey meaning. Verbless clauses often serve as modifiers within complex sentences.
Example 1:
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Verbless Clause: Exhausted after a long day
Complex Sentence: Exhausted after a long day, she collapsed on the couch.
Example 2:
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Verbless Clause: A talented musician
Complex Sentence: A talented musician, he impressed the audience with his
performance.
Conclusion: Understanding the distinctions between finite, infinite, and verbless clauses
is crucial for constructing complex sentences that effectively convey meaning and
nuance. Finite clauses function as independent sentences, while infinite clauses and
verbless clauses serve as dependent clauses, providing additional information or
modifying the main clause. By incorporating these different clause types, students can
enhance the complexity and sophistication of their writing.
Activity: To reinforce the understanding of finite, infinite, and verbless clauses, engage
students in the following activity:
Activity: Sentence Analysis and Reconstruction
1. Provide students with a set of sentences that contain different clause types (finite,
infinite, and verbless).
2. Instruct students to identify the type of clause in each sentence and analyze its
function within the sentence.
3. Ask students to reconstruct the sentences, transforming them into complex
sentences by incorporating other types of clauses or modifying the existing
clauses.
4. Encourage students to discuss their reconstructed sentences, explaining the
changes they made and the impact on the overall meaning and structure.
5. Provide feedback and guidance to ensure students grasp the nuances of each
clause type and can effectively apply them in their writing.
By actively engaging in this activity, students will reinforce their understanding of finite,
infinite, and verbless clauses, enabling them to construct complex sentences with
greater proficiency and versatility.
Remember, mastering the nuances of these clause types requires practice and
application in various contexts. Encourage students to explore and experiment with
different clause combinations to further enhance their writing skills and linguistic
abilities.